Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Lip tints are something I've never really ventured into. I could never understand the obsession with them.

So one day I got really bored and decided to try creating the gradient lips, which I have probably seen a ton of makeup tutorial videos on. One thing I never like about the gradient lips is how some girls would just slather on the deadliest-looking lip concealer and the deepest red tint and then end up looking as if they just finished sucking blood.

I picked out out Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in Red (left) to use. A quick sample review here. The sample actually has a generous amount of product good enough for a week's use. I recommend getting ready a jar to store the remaining product in it. I wasn't ready so I squirted it all over my hands and ended up having to throw away the rest. :( The colour surprisingly isn't a true red. At first glance, it's a neon bright pink. When swatched, I would say it's more of a cherry-red pink. There's definitely more pinks than red in it.

So to create gradient lips, I used:

1. Use Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Soft Nude as the base. It's a peachy nude shade for me so it doesn't make me look dead.

2. Dab the Etude House Fresh Cherry Lip Tint on the inside of the lips. Concentrate the colour on the innermost and then slowly dab and blend the colour outwards.

3. Touch up on the nude lipstick if needed. I recommend going over with lip balm as they can be drying.

I was pleasantly surprised by the effect. It makes a bright coloured lip colour look so wearable. Makes me regret a little for trying out gradient lips a little too late. Apologies for the blurry photo which didn't capture the full colour in detail. I am never comfortable with the idea of taking or even showing off a lips photo (so weird staring at my lips now). So this is a first. The lip tint is really bright and what I call, cheery (yes, cheer-y :) ) reddish pink. The nude colour helps to diffuse the brightness of the lip tint. The colour does fade a little as time goes by so you do have to touch up if you want it to be as bright.

So here's some tips for gradient lips:

1.Try to opt for brighter lip tints/lipsticks as the inner shades if you want a nude colour as base. It'll look more wearable and lively.

2. Yes, I know a Kpop star did this look. But it's for a music video. You can do it for photoshoots but it's not ok to wear this out.

3. You can use darker red/pink lip tints if you want. But switch the base colour to a pigmented colour like a light pink/red lipstick. You don't want extreme contrast between the 2 shades.

Anyway, after trying out this, I absolutely adore the Etude House lip tints. Did some googling and realised they have changed the packaging so my samples look a little different.

I would actually recommend these if you have not tried. Really was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to use and the lovely shade. The colour in Red (now it's known as Cherry Red) did stain my hands a little when I got the product all over my hands so I wouldn't really use it as a blush stain. But I think the lighter shades do look promising. Can't wait to try the third peachy shade .